Ribosomes are ribonucleoprotein complexes highly conserved across all domains of life. The size differences of ribosomal RNAs (rRNAs) can be mainly attributed to variable regions termed expansion segments (ESs) protruding out from the ribosomal surface. The ESs were found to be involved in a range of processes including ribosome biogenesis and maturation, translation, and co-translational protein modification. Here, we analyze the rRNAs of the yeasts from the Magnusiomyces/Saprochaete clade belonging to the basal lineages of the subphylum Saccharomycotina. We find that these yeasts are missing more than 400 nt from the 25S rRNA and 150 nt from the 18S rRNAs when compared to their canonical counterparts in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The missing regions mostly map to ESs, thus representing a shift toward a minimal rRNA structure. Despite the structural changes in rRNAs, we did not identify dramatic alterations in the ribosomal protein inventories. We also show that the size-reduced rRNAs are not limited to the species of the Magnusiomyces/Saprochaete clade, indicating that the shortening of ESs happened independently in several other lineages of the subphylum Saccharomycotina.

• Klíčová slova
• Magnusiomyces, expansion segments, ribosomal RNA, ribosome, yeast,
• MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• ribozomální proteiny genetika   MeSH
• ribozomy * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S genetika   MeSH
• RNA ribozomální * genetika   MeSH
• Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetika   MeSH
• Saccharomycetales genetika   klasifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• ribozomální proteiny MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 18S MeSH
• RNA ribozomální * MeSH
• RNA, ribosomal, 25S MeSH Prohlížeč

The ribosome, owing to its exceptional conservation, harbours a remarkable molecular fossil known as the protoribosome. It surrounds the peptidyl transferase center (PTC), responsible for peptide bond formation. While previous studies have demonstrated the PTC activity in RNA alone, our investigation reveals the intricate roles of the ribosomal protein fragments (rPeptides) within the ribosomal core. This research highlights the significance of rPeptides in stability and coacervation of two distinct protoribosomal evolutionary stages. The 617nt 'big' protoribosome model, which associates with rPeptides specifically, exhibits a structurally defined and rigid nature, further stabilized by the peptides. In contrast, the 136nt 'small' model, previously linked to peptidyltransferase activity, displays greater structural flexibility. While this construct interacts with rPeptides with lower specificity, they induce coacervation of the 'small' protoribosome across a wide concentration range, which is concomitantly dependent on the RNA sequence and structure. Moreover, these conditions protect RNA from degradation. This phenomenon suggests a significant evolutionary advantage in the RNA-protein interaction at the early stages of ribosome evolution. The distinct properties of the two protoribosomal stages suggest that rPeptides initially provided compartmentalization and prevented RNA degradation, preceding the emergence of specific RNA-protein interactions crucial for the ribosomal structural integrity.

• MeSH
• konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
• molekulární modely MeSH
• peptidy chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• peptidyltransferasy metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• ribozomální proteiny * metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• ribozomy * metabolismus   MeSH
• RNA metabolismus   chemie   MeSH
• stabilita RNA MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• peptidy MeSH
• peptidyltransferasy MeSH
• ribozomální proteiny * MeSH
• RNA MeSH

Recent developments in Origins of Life research have focused on substantiating the narrative of an abiotic emergence of nucleic acids from organic molecules of low molecular weight, a paradigm that typically sidelines the roles of peptides. Nevertheless, the simple synthesis of amino acids, the facile nature of their activation and condensation, their ability to recognize metals and cofactors and their remarkable capacity to self-assemble make peptides (and their analogues) favourable candidates for one of the earliest functional polymers. In this mini-review, we explore the ramifications of this hypothesis. Diverse lines of research in molecular biology, bioinformatics, geochemistry, biophysics and astrobiology provide clues about the progression and early evolution of proteins, and lend credence to the idea that early peptides served many central prebiotic roles before they were encodable by a polynucleotide template, in a putative 'peptide-polynucleotide stage'. For example, early peptides and mini-proteins could have served as catalysts, compartments and structural hubs. In sum, we shed light on the role of early peptides and small proteins before and during the nucleotide world, in which nascent life fully grasped the potential of primordial proteins, and which has left an imprint on the idiosyncratic properties of extant proteins.

• Klíčová slova
• early peptides, origins of life, prebiotic polymers, protein evolution,
• MeSH
• nukleotidy MeSH
• nukleové kyseliny * MeSH
• peptidy chemie   MeSH
• proteiny MeSH
• původ života * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• nukleotidy MeSH
• nukleové kyseliny * MeSH
• peptidy MeSH
• proteiny MeSH